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Brace yourselves: Facebook rolls out new profile pages

Mark Zuckerberg et al. seem to find endless joy in making us learn a new user interface (UI). It is once again time for a major Facebook UI update. This time it's profile pages that have received a major overhaul. My first impression: I like it. Unlike previous UI changes that were overwhelming shocking in their approach, this redesign feels right.

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Mark Zuckerberg et al. seem to find endless joy in making us learn a new user interface (UI). It is once again time for a major Facebook UI update. This time it's profile pages that have received a major overhaul. My first impression: I like it. Unlike previous UI changes that were overwhelming shocking in their approach, this redesign feels right. With more than 500 million users, Facebook finally seems to have an understanding of what works for their users.

The "wall, info, and photos" tabs are no longer displayed at the top. Instead, they are moved to the left sidebar. Selected informational items are displayed above tagged photos in the central content area. According to Facebook, the new profile design is being slowly rolled out to users. Status updates, the heart and soul of Facebook, seem to be the only area that folks are having trouble finding. Instead of a text box where updates could be entered, users have to click on "status" link now located below tagged photos in order to activate the status entry box.

Facebook has a nifty help section for finding out all about the new profile changes. Overall, it would appear that Facebook is trying to make the most popular areas of Facebook more prominent. If you are new to Facebook (it's okay, I know you are out there), the changes will probably make the site easier to use. As a seasoned Facebook user, I can say that this is one of the few Facebook UI updates that does not make me want to join a "revert back to the old look please" groups.

What do you think? Do you think that the new profile UI is a step in the right direction? Like? Dislike?